Chapter 540 – New Faces of the Boundary City

Everyone seemed interested in the new game, and the excitement naturally evolved into a chess tournament.

Since chess involves moving pieces once you learn the rules, even Seraphina and Marlene were happily playing matches against each other.

Claudia and Rosemary appeared to be the strongest players. Though strategic methods weren’t yet established, they made logical moves while anticipating each other’s plays, resulting in well-matched games.

Grace and Ashley were also quite skilled, though Grace tended to favor aggressive play while Ashley leaned more toward defense.

In these aspects, I could see how their usual combat roles influenced their playing styles. Sheila seemed to prefer using knights and queens to disrupt her opponents’ formations.

Well, as everyone becomes more proficient, they’ll likely develop standard opening moves and learn to read each other’s strategies, leading to more typical chess developments.

Even then, individual characteristics would probably still show in their play, though perhaps not as clearly as they do now.

The chess tournament in the game room continued peacefully until midnight, ending when Marlene started nodding off.

“Good night, then.”

“Yes. I’ll be counting on you tomorrow.”

“Good night.”

After exchanging these words with Queen Eldorene and the others, we returned to our rooms.

The sleepy Marlene was guided to the washroom with Rosemary supporting her shoulder. I finished my pre-bed preparations and changed into sleepwear before returning to the bedroom, where everyone else joined shortly after.

“Hmm. What should we do about the Circulating Ki we couldn’t do in the bath?”

“How about the two of us taking a bath together tomorrow? It’s already quite late.”

“That sounds good. A bit unconventional, but…”

Marlene, who would be sleeping beside me tonight, already looked sleepy too. If we spent time on Circulating Ki now, not just Marlene but others might fall asleep before we finish.

So… I simply lay down on the bed. Marlene and Claudia came to lie beside me.

Though drowsy, Marlene smiled happily and closed her eyes while clinging to my arm. I gently stroked her soft hair while taking Claudia’s hand with my other hand. Her arm was slender and delicate. The coolness I felt was probably due to our body temperature difference.

“Theodore, your hand is warm.”

“Maybe because some time has passed since my bath.”

When I began Circulating Ki, Claudia closed her eyes contentedly.

“Well then… we should be careful not to catch a chill after bathing. Though we do have Tephra’s Blessing.”

Rosemary lay down beside Claudia. As she said this, Claudia took Rosemary’s hand too. Hmm. Right. I incorporated Rosemary, now connected through Claudia, into the Circulating Ki.

“Indeed… Circulating Ki warms you from the inside.”

Rosemary’s eyes met mine, but she blushed slightly, gave a small cough, and quietly closed her eyes.

Ashley lay down beside Marlene, with Grace next to her. Marlene, perhaps hearing the conversation in her half-asleep state, reached out toward Ashley.

“Thank you, Marlene-sama.”

Ashley smiled and took her hand, and Marlene nodded slightly. Then Ashley and Grace held hands.

Grace and Rosemary used their free hands to cover everyone with blankets… and the bedroom lights went out.

“Good night, everyone.”

“Yes. Good night.”

Even as I responded to Grace, the Circulating Ki spread to everyone.

Though there were slight differences in magical wavelength, I could clearly feel everyone’s magical power. I gathered it, blended it into one, and spread it throughout.

Feeling a faint warmth from within our bodies… we slowly drifted into sleep as if floating on waves.

And so—the next day arrived.

“Mmm. This is wonderful.”

That was Sheila’s assessment. She had claimed a spot at the low table, hunched over it.

We had installed a kotatsu in the Japanese-style room. To be precise, it was a magic tool equivalent to a kotatsu.

Since it only emitted a comfortable, consistent warmth, it was probably a simple type of magic tool. I’d made it planning to use it in the Japanese room during winter, designed to stop heating once the replenished magical power was exhausted. Yes. All we need now are some mikan oranges to make it perfect.

“This might make mornings more bearable.”

Sitting across from Sheila with a cheerful smile was Irmhild. She had Seraphina on her lap, sharing the kotatsu blanket to keep warm. Hmm… Irmhild seemed quite pleased. Lamias tend to be somewhat sluggish in the mornings. If it’s this popular, maybe we should install one in Irmhild’s parents’ room too.

“Hmm. Another unusual room style. Indeed, this magic tool is pleasantly warm.”

Queen Eldorene also seemed to approve of the kotatsu. The Japanese-style room appeared somewhat peculiar compared to other architecture.

We woke up slightly later than usual and had breakfast, where the conversation about Weltes and Eckels’ magic tools led to discussion of new magic tools—specifically, the kotatsu. So we invited everyone to the main house’s Japanese room for a demonstration.

“So warm…”

Sigritta also seemed quite taken with it. Resting her chin on the table and fully enjoying the experience, she drew wry smiles from Forset and Sion, while Marceska laughed delightedly.

After taking turns trying the kotatsu and drinking tea, it was time to head to the workshop to receive Weltes and their magic tools.

“How’s the size?”

“Just right. Thank you.”

When Alfred asked, Eckels bowed quietly.

The aerial combat equipment included armor with built-in Magic Shields for maintaining posture when riding water through the air, gauntlets and greaves that generated water, and boots for water riding.

Well, it would require practice, but Weltes and Eckels had been creating water and channeling their Fighting Spirit into it to form small whirlpools and such.

Since the magic tools performed predetermined movements, they wouldn’t need to allocate mental resources to water creation magic, allowing them to focus more on combat.

Similarly, Sheila’s equipment received upgrades. A water magic stone was embedded in the Pearl Sword’s hilt, allowing water emission from the blade, whirlpool creation, wrapping water with Fighting Spirit to launch as Slash Attacks, and electrification—giving her more options in her arsenal.

Sheila, Weltes, and the others were in the workshop’s courtyard testing their equipment, manipulating water and launching it to get a feel for the magic tools.

“With magic tools, control can be delegated to the tool itself, so you’ll need to get accustomed to activating them.”

“Hmm. This might become training to increase magical capacity.”

“Then… how about using these magic tools as much as possible in daily activities? The Demon-Slaying Knight Order members are ahead of us. To catch up, we’ll need twice or three times the training and effort.”

“Sounds good. Let’s do that.”

Weltes and Eckels nodded in agreement. Ah, well. Using them regularly… while straightforward, is quite effective. I wouldn’t suggest this method as training to others, but these two don’t seem to mind—rather, it’s what they prefer.

“I won’t object as long as you can exercise self-control to avoid magical exhaustion. If you need Magic Potions or such, I’ll prepare them. Visiting the Fire Spirit Hot Spring might also be beneficial.”

“Thank you.”

When I offered advice, both bowed simultaneously.

They’ll have to learn these nuances through experience themselves. They might rely on Magic Potions at first, but they’ll gradually understand the proper allocation.

Regardless of emotional complications, Weltes and the others seem compatible in terms of thinking and personality. If things continue progressing smoothly, we should be able to build trust between us.

After spending some time giving lessons on three-dimensional movement using the magic tools, once the two could perform basic aerial maneuvers, we headed for the labyrinth.

“The water dragon parent and child, hmm.”

“Though they’re dragons, they have gentle dispositions.”

Queen Eldorene looked somewhat tense, but when I spoke to her, she smiled and nodded quietly.

We traveled to the Moon Temple by carriage, but Weltes and the others were true to their word—creating water beneath their feet and riding on it for transportation.

Belius was accompanying the carriage too, so it drew considerable attention… but in this case, it’s probably better for them to act confidently so the surroundings become accustomed to them.